Society News

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): The Election Commission of India on Friday announced the election dates for the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections 2014. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said, that polling would be held in Maharashtra and Haryana on 15 October. The results will be announced on 19 October. The Election Commission announced that the notification for the election in the two states will be issued on 20 September. The last date for candidates to file their nominations will be 27 September. The process of scrutiny will be conducted on 29 September and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be 1 October.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Friday reviewed progress of eight major infrastructure sectors in the country. The sectors included Civil Aviation, Ports and Inland Waterways, Railways, Roads, Telecom, Power, Coal, and New and Renewable Energy. The meet was a part of the regular series of reviews on infrastructure, which the prime minister takes every month. Modi stated that accelerated infrastructure development was his top priority, and also stressed the need for creating world-class infrastructure in India. The Prime Minister said initiatives undertaken by state governments as well as Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) with other countries, including SAARC countries, should also be taken into account while monitoring the progress of infrastructure sectors.Sep 12, 2014

Manipur, Sept 12 (ANI): The civil organization, United Naga Council (UNC), in Manipur on Friday lifted its indefinite ban on national projects in the state and on vehicular traffic on national highways. The UNC had called for a shutdown from 6 am in Ukhrul district on September 04 to protest against the killings of two civilians, Mayopam Ramror and VS Ramkasing by security forces. An expert, Professor Amar Yumnam, said that the state government imposed 144 CrPC in such a way that it jeopardized the situation. An Inter State Bus operator, Aswinikumar Singh, said that they incurred huge loss due to the ban.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): The Press Secretary of President Pranab Mukherjee, Venu Rajamony, on Friday said that Mukherjee will be visiting Vietnam from 14th to 17th September. He added that Mukherjee will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and leaders to the country. Rajamony also said that Vietnam has been a friendly nation to India and President’s visit will enhance ties between the two countries.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): After former CAG Vinod Rai indicted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his ignorance which led to 2G and Coal gate scam, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Rai's statement has only proved true BJP's allegations on Congress. He said that Singh was aware of every scam that took place and he still went ahead blatantly, knowing that it will hurt the country's economy and therefore he cannot now plead ignorance. Javadekar further said that although Singh was the prime minister, the power actually resided in 10 Janpath, which is Congress' office.Sep 12, 2014

Mandsaur, Sept. 11 (ANI): Children practicing for the annual state level swimming competition in Mandsaur district of central Indian Madhya Pradesh received a surprise as a bull suddenly jumped into the pool to join the fun and frolic. Interestingly, instead of being scared, the children were overjoyed to see the bull sharing the pool and swimming with them. According to swimming coach, Vijeta Singh, the children helped the authorities in pulling the bull out of the pool. It took nearly an hour of high drama after the reluctant animal was finally pulled out of the pool, leaving authorities speculating at the source from where the animal entered the premises of the competition.The state level sports meet was being organized by the state education department.More than 450 children from across eight divisions had gathered in the venue to practice for the finals.Sep 12, 2014

Odisha, Sept.11, (ANI): To commemorate the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, India's renowned sand artist, Sudarsan Pattnaik, sculpted the twin towers of World Trade Centre on the beaches of Puri in eastern Odisha, with the message 'No Terror, but Peace.' Pattnaik created a five feet high sand replica of the twin towers in the middle of the number nine so as to represent the number eleven. The sculpture was made using five tonnes of sand and took about seven hours to complete. It also carried the message, 'No Terror, But Peace'. So far, winner of Padma Shri, a civilian honour, Sudarsan has participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for the country.Sep 12, 2014

Celebrity athlete Oscar Pistorius was found guilty on Friday of culpable homicide in shooting dead his glamorous girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a conviction that could result in a lengthy jail term. Duration: 01:15Sep 12, 2014

Pakistani authorities move to protect two major cities from raging floodwaters, readying explosives to divert swollen rivers, in a crisis which has hit nearly two million people. Duration: 00:51Sep 12, 2014

Bhubaneswar, Sep 12 (ANI): In a combing operation, police and district forces busted a Maoist camp in Gajapati district of Odisha and seized arms and ammunition. The combing operation was conducted in Barimunda jungle, where exchange of fire also took place between the police and rebels. Superintendent of Police, Satyajit Nayak, who led the operation, suspected that a temporary camp was functioning in the area. A police official sustained minor injury during the encounter. Around four Maoists were present and managed to escape after the gun battle. The Maoists control large but poor areas of the region and often attack railway lines and mining operations to cripple economic activity, such as the transportation of coal to power and steel companies.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday briefed about the Ministry's achievement in past 100 days of government. Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed worst flooding in the last many years and said that more than 1 lakh 30 thousand people have been rescued till now. He further lauded the defense and NDRF personnel for their rescue efforts in the flood-hit state. He also laid stress upon women security in police stations and said that more women shall be deployed as officers. He also said that Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has been asked by the ministry for some land in order to rehabilitate the Kashmiri migrants.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday briefed about the Ministry’s achievement in past 100 days of government. Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed worst flooding in the last many years and said that more than 1 lakh 30 thousand people have been rescued till now. He further lauded the defense and NDRF personnel for their rescue efforts in the flood-hit state. He also laid stress upon women security in police stations and said that more women shall be deployed as officers. He also said that Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has been asked by the ministry for some land in order to rehabilitate the Kashmiri migrants.Sep 12, 2014

New Delhi, Sept 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that there is no need to fear from terror group al-Qaeda's announcement of forming its wing in India and launching attacks. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, he said that nothing could be said about the authenticity of the video which is still under examination by various expert agencies.Al-Qaeda commander Ayman al-Zawahari had announced the formation of a new wing of the feared terrorist group dedicated to waging jihad in the Indian subcontinent. In the videotape - the first released by the al-Qaeda chief since August 2013 - al-Zawaheri promises that al-Qaeda will now expand its operations throughout the region.Sep 12, 2014

Jorhat, Sep 12 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, inaugurated first women only university which will include under-graduate as well as post graduate courses. Addressing a function in Jorhat district, Gogoi said the university will help women in gaining expertise in different fields. Professor Doctor KM Bujarbaruah, who is the vice-chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU), would mentor the women university. Till now 19 faculty members have been recruited and 55 students have taken admission. The classes started from September 1 in a temporary building. The University will also have a hostel, which will accommodate students coming from far flung areas of the region.Sep 12, 2014